Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  I moved to leave the limo again and this time, Drake didn’t stop me.

  ***

  Pete and I spent the rest of the week undoing the damage Drake had done by appearing at our rally. We’d lost dozens of supporters, but those in the academic world were as outraged as Pete and I by Drake’s audacity. They rallied their friends and colleagues and by Friday, our list of supporters had tripled. Piper and I celebrated with a bottle of wine and went to bed early.

  At nine o’clock Saturday morning, I was startled awake by our doorbell. I rolled over, determined to drift back into my dream.

  I’m sure Piper’s up by now. She can get the door. It’s probably for her anyway.

  The bell rang again and I remembered that Piper and Seth had planned on leaving for a day in the country as soon as the sun came up. I climbed out of bed, stuffed my feet into slippers, and stumbled across the room. I grabbed my robe from the closet door, pulled it on over my tank top and panties, and pulled the belt tight. I padded into the living room and reached for the door just as the bell rang for the third time.

  “I’m here, I’m here,” I said impatiently as I swung it open. I was greeted by Rebecca’s condescending smile.

  You are not who I want to see first thing in the morning.

  “Yes, indeed you are,” she agreed, looking me up and down. “You and I need to have a little talk. Do something with that God-awful hair of yours and put on something presentable. I’m taking you to breakfast.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I insisted. I leaned against the doorframe, making it clear that Rebecca wasn’t welcome in my apartment.

  “You got what you wanted, Rebecca. Drake and I are over. And one of the best things about that is I no longer have to put up with you.”

  “Chelsea, I tried to warn you that Drake wasn’t who you thought he was. Honestly, I did you a favor. I thought a woman of your intelligence would have realized that by now.”

  She had a point, and I had already realized it. But that didn’t mean I wanted to sit down and share a meal with her.

  “I’m not taking no for an answer, dear,” Rebecca continued. “I have a proposition for you, another favor, if you will. I think you’ll be quite interested. I’ll be downstairs in my car. If you don’t join me in fifteen minutes, I’ll come back upstairs.”

  She turned on her extremely high heels and glided back to the staircase.

  What the hell could she want? I guess there’s only one way to find out. How many conversations do I have to have before the Waters family finally leaves me alone?

  I dressed quickly, pulling my hair into a tight bun and stepping into a casual sundress. I joined Rebecca downstairs with four minutes to spare. I took the seat next to her in the backseat of the sedan and the driver pulled away from the curb.

  Unlike Drake’s limos, Rebecca’s car didn’t have a privacy screen separating the front seat from the back. We rode to Le Bistro in absolute, awkward silence. We didn’t speak again until we were seated at a private booth.

  “You said you had a proposition for me,” I reminded her as our waitress went to fetch our drink orders.

  “Yes,” she said, digging through her purse. She pulled out a small manila envelope and slid it across the table. I stared at it, afraid to take her bait.

  “What do you want, Rebecca?” I asked, my arms folded across my chest.

  “I want you to open the envelope, dear,” she said, her eyes fixed on the menu. “Then, we can discuss terms.”

  Terms? What the hell is in that envelope?

  The waitress reappeared with our coffee and orange juice and Rebecca ordered a lavish breakfast of stuffed crepes, smoked salmon, and crab Benedict. I hastily ordered a fruit plate and stared at the envelope, waiting for the waitress to leave.

  If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I can’t trust Rebecca. Whatever game she’s playing, I refuse to be a part of it.

  The waitress promised our food would be out shortly and made her way to the table beside us.

  “I didn’t poison the envelope, Chelsea. Open it,” Rebecca insisted.

  “Whatever’s in there, I’m not interested,” I replied defiantly. “You’ve done me quite enough favors all ready, thank you.”

  “How could you possibly know that unless you look inside?” she argued, her voice sweet and patient. “The contents of that envelope could change your life, dear. It’s worth a glance.”

  Finally, curiosity got the better of me and I unfastened the brass closure. A single piece of folded paper fell out into my hand. I opened it and found one of Rebecca’s personal checks tucked inside. It was made out to me and the amount had been left blank. Confused, my eyes moved from the check to the document that had enclosed it. My blood ran hot as I read the words on the page.

  “You honestly think there’s any amount of money you could give me that would make me sign this fucking form?” I demanded, waving the nondisclosure agreement around in the air. I wadded it into a ball and tossed it at Rebecca’s head. It missed, bounced off the booth, and landed on the table. Rebecca acted as if she hadn’t noticed my reaction.

  “I honestly think that we can agree to terms that are mutually beneficial,” she explained. “I can only imagine that you became accustomed to a certain kind of lifestyle when you were with my son. And I understand that losing such a lifestyle could cause a person to become bitter. I can’t take the chance of that bitterness leading to loose lips. You know too much, Chelsea. And I don’t trust you,” she confessed.

  “The feeling is mutual,” I spat back at her.

  “All the more reason for us to put something in writing,” she insisted. “Name your price, Chelsea. I have enough money at my disposal to ensure that you have a comfortable life… not quite as comfortable as you would have with Drake, but better than you’d ever have on your own.”

  The waitress appeared with our breakfast plates and I took a deep breath, determined to keep my cool. Rebecca and I could have discussed all of this at my apartment, but she’d brought me somewhere public so I’d be forced to control my temper.

  The woman is good. I’ll give her that. But I’m better. And I’m sick and fucking tired of the Waters and their attempts to pacify me with their cash.

  Once we were alone again, I cleared my throat and stared at Rebecca. I kept my tone calm and even, but hate radiated from my eyes. “You know, Rebecca… you were right about Drake being like you. I never saw it before, but I do now. You’re both demanding and you both think that your money can buy power over people. And with some people, it obviously can… but not me. I’m not threatening to spill all of your family’s dirty little secrets. But I won’t sign a form and sell away my right to speak.”

  Rebecca ignored her food and folded her arms over her chest. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, Chelsea. I hope you realize that divulging information that’s not your place to tell would bring nothing but trouble for you. I have friends in high places, not to mention the rest of the family’s connections. If you do things my way, you’ll never have to worry about money again. If you foolishly decide to tell what you know, I’ll rain a hell down upon you that will make you wish you’d never been born.”

  I stood up abruptly and grabbed my purse. “I wasn’t with Drake because of his money and I’m certainly not interested in yours. I have no desire to sink to your level or to make anyone look bad. All I want is for your family to leave me the fuck alone. Pretend we never met, Rebecca, and I’ll do the same.”

  For the first time since I’d met her, Rebecca seemed speechless. I turned and left the café before she rediscovered her voice.

  ***

  “All right ladies, I have a red wine, a white wine, and a sparkling water for our momma-to-be. Your appetizers should be up shortly. Is there anything else I can get you while you wait?” our waiter asked as he distributed our drinks around the table. Stacey, Piper, and I shook our heads in unison and Tom left the table.

  “I’m so jealous that y
ou guys get to go to LA tomorrow,” Stacey said, spinning her straw in her glass.

  “It’s a work conference,” I reminded her. “I doubt there will be much time to relax and see the sights.”

  “I wish I could get out of it,” Piper sighed. “Seth’s new show is opening on Thursday. I hate that I have to miss it.”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and wondered if I’d been as annoying as Piper when I was in love with Drake. I was pretty sure the answer was yes.

  “I’d do anything to get out of the city,” Stacey confessed. “We don’t even go to the beach house anymore. We have to stop so often for me to pee, it takes all day to get there.”

  “I know you’re uncomfortable, Stace. But this will all be over soon,” I assured her.

  “That’s right!” Piper beamed. “Four more months and we’ll have a new little princess tagging along on our shopping trips.”

  “That seems like such a long time away,” Stacey sighed and leaned back in her chair, cradling her stomach. “But I can be patient. I want her to stay in there as long as she needs to be healthy. Though I won’t say I’m not looking forward to the day I can have a glass of wine again,” she added, staring at her water.

  “When that day comes, we’ll buy a bottle of the good stuff,” I promised. I took a sip of my Chardonnay and turned to Piper. “I know you’re not thrilled about the timing of the trip, but I’m glad we’re getting away together. I think you were right. Some fresh air and a change of scenery is exactly what I need right now.”

  “You seem to be back to your old self, Chelsea,” Stacey observed. “But with a much better wardrobe.”

  “Thanks,” I replied with a laugh. I’d made sixty thousand dollars selling the clothes and jewelry Drake had given me. I put fifty-three thousand in the bank and spent the rest on a more practical wardrobe.

  “It’s good to see you laugh,” Piper added. “You had me scared for a while.”

  “I know. I scared myself,” I confessed. “But I have my head on straight again. I’ve talked to Drake and Rebecca. Everyone’s said what they needed to say, and now we can all move on. And I, for one, am looking forward to the future.”

  “Does this mean I can set you up with one of Seth’s friends?” Piper asked hopefully.

  “We’re not quite there,” I replied with a cringe. Listening to Drake and talking to Rebecca had given me closure, and I really was feeling more like my old self. But I also felt broken. I couldn’t ignore or deny the damage Drake had done to my life. And I knew I had to put myself back together before I could think about getting involved with someone new.

  “You have to start sometime,” Piper insisted. “Come on, Stace. Help me out.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Stacey said, shaking her head. “After the fiasco she just got out of, I’ll never try to set her up again… or anyone else, for that matter. My matchmaking days are over.”

  “I don’t want to talk about men,” I insisted. “I want to talk about the shower. Stace, can we please tell Ollie that you’re having a girl? I’m dying to buy tutus and hair bows, but those aren’t exactly gender neutral.”

  “Ollie doesn’t want to know,” she reminded me. “Buy all the tutus and hair bows you want. Just wrap up something yellow for the shower and save the rest for after she gets here.”

  “I can do that,” I agreed.

  “All right ladies,” Tom said, approaching the table with a large tray balanced on one arm. “Here are your starters. Your entrees will be out shortly.”

  “Thank you,” we said simultaneously as he put a platter of fried mushrooms, spinach dip, and cheese sticks in front of us. Tom backed away from our table and I lifted my glass to my friends.

  “I want you both to know how grateful I am that you’re in my life,” I began. Stacey immediately pulled a tissue from her purse while Piper’s face flushed. “I really don’t think I’d have made it through these past few weeks if I hadn’t known that you were in my corner. I’m sorry for all of the drama and nonsense I’ve put you through.”

  “No apologies necessary,” Piper insisted.

  “We love you too,” Stacey added, wiping a tear off her cheek. My friends raised their glasses to mine.

  “To the future,” I toasted.

  And to forgetting the past.

  CHAPTER 3

  e

  “Oh my God, I can’t remember the last time I felt so… sticky,” Piper said as we wheeled our luggage into our tiny hotel room. We’d landed in LA at four o’clock in the afternoon to hundred-degree heat and eighty percent humidity. Our clothes stuck to us with sweat and my hair had never been so big.

  “We have just enough time to shower and get to the welcome dinner.” I squeezed past her and tossed my suitcase onto one of the two full size beds that took up two thirds of our floor space.

  This is a long way from a penthouse suite. I’m glad Drake’s in my past, but I’m certainly going to miss some of the perks.

  I walked over to the window, flipped on the air conditioner, and opened the curtains.

  “At least we have a great view,” I observed as I stared out at the beach.

  My life with Drake started on the banks of one ocean, and my new life is starting on the banks of another… God, I’ve got to get him out of my head.

  “Do you mind if I take the first shower?” Piper asked. She dug through her suitcase and pulled out a wrinkled white sundress.

  “Be my guest. I’ll head down to the lobby and pick up our welcome packets. I want to look at the itinerary and see when Dr. Harris is speaking.” Dr. Harris was the head librarian for the Library of Congress and I was dying to hear his lecture on document dating.

  Piper disappeared into the bathroom and moments later the pipes started to rattle.

  I really should have checked into upgrading our room.

  I stuck my key card in the back pocket of my khaki shorts and set off for the lobby. The small, independent hotel hosting our conference had definitely seen better days. The carpet was worn, the ceiling tiles were mismatched, and the smell of stale salt hung in the air. But it was right on the beach, so I didn’t expect to hear any complaints.

  I stepped into a glass elevator and watched the main floor grow closer as it made its descent. The car stopped twice to pick up more passengers, all of whom were already wearing their convention name badges. We made small talk about the sweltering weather and then parted ways when the doors opened.

  I walked up to the table set up in front of the main event’s room and gave mine and Piper’s names to the woman perched behind it.

  “Let’s see,” she said, thumbing through a stack of manila envelopes. “Here we are.” She passed me the welcome packets and gave me a warm smile. “I recognize your name. You recently set a donation record in New York, didn’t you?”

  Her question caught me off guard. After a few flustered seconds, I straightened my shoulders and smiled back at her. “Yes, I did. But I had a great team working with me.”

  “I’m Beth,” she said, extending her hand. “I work in the archives office of the LA Seafaring Museum. Come find me during the cocktail hour. I’d love to pick your brain. Oh hello, Dr. Harris.”

  Dr. Harris? Oh my God, he’s behind me.

  “Hi, Beth,” he replied, stepping up beside me. “I seem to have already lost my itinerary. Do you have any extra’s stashed back there?”

  “Of course,” she assured him. I stood there, trying to seem casual but failing miserably. I clutched the envelopes to my chest with one hand and moved the other to my hip, the table, and then my pocket.

  This is what other people feel like when they run into a celebrity. I can’t believe I’m standing next to my idol. I have to pull myself together.

  “Dr. Harris, this is Chelsea Tyler. Chelsea, this is Dr. Charles Harris,” Beth broke the silence.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Tyler. This is my intern, Colton Shaw.” I shook Dr. Harris’s hand in awe and then turned to the man beside him.

/>   Whoa… I was so awestruck by Dr. Harris; I didn’t even notice he was standing next to a male model.

  Colton Shaw was by far the best-looking man I’d ever seen at a history related event. He was at least six-five, with dark curls, green eyes, and skin the color of café au lait.

  “It’s very nice to meet you too,” I replied, turning my attention back to Dr. Harris. I hoped my face wasn’t as red as it felt. “And it’s Ms. Tyler,” I added, offering my hand to Colton.

  “It’s very nice to meet you,” he said, pressing his soft palm into mine. “Who are you representing, Ms. Tyler?”

  “I work for The Manhattan Historical Society,” I explained, still holding tight to the welcome packs. I was suddenly very aware that I was covered in sweat and still in my baggy traveling clothes. Colton and Dr. Harris looked impeccable in lightweight linen slacks and polo shirts. “My roommate and I just arrived. She took the first shower, so I came down to get our packets.”

  Colton looked me up and down and then met my eyes with a smile. I felt a flutter in my chest and looked away, my whole body suddenly hot.

  “We’ll let you get back to your room,” Colton offered. “But I look forward to seeing you at dinner.”

  I straightened my shoulders and looked back to him. He greeted my gaze with an easy smile. “I’ll see you then. It was nice to meet you all.”

  I made my way back to the elevator, my heart racing with excitement and anticipation.

  I never expected to feel like this so soon.

  ***

  “How long do you think this will last?” Piper asked as we stepped into the banquet hall. She wasn’t watching where she was going, opting instead to keep her eyes glued to the screen of her phone. She typed out yet another text to Seth while I steered us toward our assigned table. I was disappointed to see Dr. Harris and Colton already seated on the opposite side of the room.